Fracture apparatus



Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES ALFRED DELORME, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FRACTURE APPARATUS.

Application filed May 16, 1921.

To all i/'iom if muy conm/rn:

lie it known that I, Aurina) llamame, a subject of the King of Great Britain. but having declared my intentions ot' becoming a citizen of the United States of America. residing at Springfield. in the county of llampden and Commonwealth ot' Massachusetts. have invented certain new and useful lmproveuients in Fracture Apparatus. of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvementsl in surgical appliances. and more particularly to what is known as a fracture apparatus. which is designed to firmly hold the limb in place while it is being dressed by the surgeon. and during the time of the healing of the wound.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that may be adapted to tit limbs of different lengths. and one that may be adjusted at different angles in order to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

A further objectis to provide an apparatus that can be interchangeably used on either the right or left limb.

A further object is to provide a device that will remain in a horizontal position; or. if desired7 in a slightly inclined position.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ot' the entire apparatus. showing in dotted lilies a limb supported therein.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the turn buckle for adjusting the angular relation of the upper and lower portions ot' the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a detail view ot the removable ring member that is attached at the upper end of the apparatus. whereby the same may be used for either limb.

Fig. 4 is a detail view ot the toot plate adjusting device.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 55 ot' Fig. 1 of the joint between the upper and lower parts ot the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail: 1 and 2 designate parallel rods at the lower part of the apparatus. 3 and 4 are parallel rods at the upper end of the apparatus. These two sets of rods are pivotally connected together. as indicated at 5 and (i. and a detail of this joint is shown in Fig. 5 in which the interengaging portions are formed with inclined surfaces 7. having a space S therebetween. 9 indicates a brace rod tor making the structure rigid at these pivotal points. This rod 9 is formed with a thread Serial No. 468,879.

10 at its ends to receive a thumb nut 11. whereby the joint may be firmly tightened For the purpose of adjusting the angular relation between the upper and lower sets ot rods. brackets 12 are attached to the sau! rods in any suitable manner. as brazing. and attached to these brackets at the points 12 are the rods 13 and 14. which are threaded at their innerends. indicated at 15. scc Fig. 2. 16 indicates turnbuckles which. when rotated. on the rods 13 and 1-1. after the thumb nuts 11 are loosened. will change the angular relation of the upper and lower rods 1 and 2. 3 and 4. The thumb nuts 11 are then tightened. The brace 9. if desired. may be changed or moved into the dotted line position 9 for the purpose of comfort or convenience.

1T designates a ring having the arms 18 and 121 of ditiierent lengths attached thereto. These arms are recessed. as shown in Fig. 3 to receive the rods 3 and 4. and thumb nuts 2t! are employed for clamping the ring to the rods. ly reason of the difference in length between the rods 18 Iand 19. the ring 1T may be revers-ed in order that the apparatus may be used on either the right or lett limb ot' the patient.

For the purpose of accommodating the apparatus to patients whose limbs ale o1' different lengths. a bar 21 is slidably mounted on the rods 1 and 2. Spaced from. and connected to the bar 21 is a second bar which is also slidable on the rods 1 and 2. 23 indicates thumb nuts for securing or clamping the bar 22 in different positions ou the rods 1 and 2. 24 is an adjustingscrew that is threaded through the bar 22 and engages the bar 2l. whereby the latter bar may be moved along the rods 1 and 2. 25 is a depending arm that is connected to the har 22 and is formed with an opening at its lower end to receive the slidable rod 2G. which rod is for the purpose of retaining the apparatus in a substantially horizontal position, or in other words. to prevent it from tipping sidewise when in use. 2T is a` toot plate which is pivotally attached to the bar 21 at 2H. For the purpose of adjusting this plate. a thumb screw 2. is threaded through the depending bracket 3i). The plate 2T is formed with a heel plate 31 for resting the limb in a comfortable position. 32 designates openings in the toot plate 27 to receive strips of bandage, if desired.

vlt will hc understood that the apparatus ma).4 he used h r passing bandages around the rods l and .2. Il and 4. as desired. for holding thc liinh ol' the patient firmly in place` 'lhe position ot' the slidahle rod .t may. if desired. be so placed as to permit the trame as a whole to assume a slightly inclined position.

i designates loops or rings that are pivotall)Y connected to the har 2l by means of the pins 1&4 to receive bandages. as desired.

1T designates leather or suitable covering for the ring 1T. for the purpose of making it comfortable for the wearer.

What l claim is:

l. In an apparatus of thc kind described, the combination with t\\o sets of parallel hars which ain pivot-.illy connected together, means includhg a turnbucltle construction that is directly ttached thereto tor adjusting the angular itlation of the sets of bars and for tixedly retaining them in the adjusted position. and a removable ring 1nemher having rods fixedly attached thereto or dctachahly connecting the ring to the ends ot' one set of hars and to permit the ring member to be reversed, for the purpose described.

2. ln an apparatus of the kind described. the combination with upper and lower sets of rods. means for pvotally connecting the rods together. means including rods connected thereto for adjusting the saine, a foot plate having slidable means mounted ou the rods. means including a threaded rod carried by the slidahle means and engaging the foot plate for adjusting its angular po sition. said means serving to retain the same in its adjusted position, and means for retaining the apparatus as a whole in substantially a horizontal position when resting on a support as a mattress, for the purpose described.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described. the combination with a pair of rods. a foot plate. means for varying the position of the plate on the rods. and means lncludlng a horizontallyv slidable rod for retaining the position o the apparatus substantially in a horizontal position when resting on the hed. as described. said rod projecting on the, opposite sides of the rods to give lateral support.

4. ln a. Jfracture apparatus. the combination with a )air of rods. a second pair of rods pivotal y connected thereto. an areshapcd brace har connecting the rods at their pivotai points. and designed to be rotated about said points into a position either above or below the rods. a turnbuckle construction connecting thc pairs of rods and to the brace for varying the angular relation between the pairs ot' rods. a detachable ring member having arms of different lengths for receiving the upper ends of one ol' the pairs of rods. whereby the ringmemher ma)`l he interchanged on the rods to permit the use of the apparatus on either the right or left limb. as described.

Ii. A fracture apparatus having in combination` two pairs of parallel members which are pivotally connected together. a single turnhuckle construction connected to cach of the pairs of parallel members for varying the angular position otl said members with relation to each other. a toot plate. a bar on which the ,plate is pirotally mounted. said bar being slidably mounted on one pair of the parallel m `.mbers. a device tor varying the angular position of the Jfoot plate, means for longitudinally adjusting the Jfoot plate on said members. and laterally slidahle means for maintaining the apparatus in a horizontal position, as described.

(E. In an apparatus of the kind described. two pairs of parallel members pirotally connected together, means including a slidable rod for engaging the upper surface of thc mattress of the hed for maintaining the apparatus in a substantially horizontal position to prevent its turning or tipping over sidewise. as described. said rod projecting laterally beyond the pairs of parallel members. means for slidably supporting the rod including a depending member having an opening therethrough. the depending member being slidably mounted on one of the pairs of parallel members.

ALFRED DELORME. 

